Gary Rohan adds extra dimension to Sydney Swans after finding his feet at the back

Finding his feet: Gary Rohan is returning to his best after suffering a horrific leg injury in 2012. Photo: Getty Images

Gary Rohan is over the leg soreness which curtailed his start to the season and is now shaping as a potential wildcard Sydney can use at either end in their push for a second flag in three seasons.

After playing all his league career as a forward, Rohan is now cast in the role of a defender – a position which he has not played since he was a teenager for his home team Cobden in Victoria's west.

The move was designed to make Rohan a more flexible player. The club had already seen him play well as a forward, though opportunities can be limited playing inside a forward 50 alongside Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes.

At 189cm and 88kg, Rohan has the size and strength to match up on taller forwards but also the speed and agility to take on the ground-level whippets.

There is also a longer-term spinoff for the Swans as Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw, who have played the role of rebounding defenders, are nearing the end of their careers, though Swans coach John Longmire was more concerned about the ramifications for this year.

"It's very much to help us win here and now," Longmire said.

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"We think Gary at his best can help us do that now. It's part of the education process and flexibility. We looked at him to be able to play both ends of the ground at his height and speed. If he's able to get his run at half-back and his ability to read the play keeps improving he can then use his speed with great effect.

"If we've got Malceski and Shaw down there that adds another dimension to our team."

Although Rohan, 23, appears to have timed his run to perfection in the lead in to September – Saturday's game against Port Adelaide will be his fifth on the trot – his prospects of regaining his place in the Swans' side appeared bleak midway through the season.

Dropped after round four, Rohan was dealing with multiple problems – he had to build his fitness, learn a new role but still play at a high enough standard to warrant a recall.

This was not easy, particularly as he was battling nerve pain in his leg – the lingering effects from his horrific injury in 2012. The ailment was preventing him from running out full games.

Rohan was also learning how to play as a backman – a role which, at first glance, seems to be totally at odds with such a flamboyant and creative player.

"He had some soreness in his leg earlier in the year so we weren't confident he could get through the four quarters at any level," Longmire said.

"Certainly for the first few games when he was playing in the reserves he was struggling to do that. When he was able to put back-to-back training sessions, back-to-back games in our reserves he was able to run out the games really well.

"The combination of that and learning the new position meant he had to spend a few weeks in the reserves to play half-back."

The Swans did not appear to be missing him either, racking up win after win.

Rohan received a call-up in round 13 but it proved fleeting. He was immediately dropped after failing to collect a possession in less than half a quarter, but he has had more of an impact since his promotion five weeks ago.

"He's been OK, he's been improving each week and getting used to it,'' Longmire said. ''The other players in the defensive line have been really good helping him learn the game."

The Swans are optimistic Rohan's leg issues will not hinder him again this year.

"The medical staff always thought the more he was able to play and get some games and minutes under his belt the better he would be in the back end of the year – that's clearly been the case," Longmire said.